Indicator for relays



Nov. 18, 1924. 1,516,313

R. SEARING INDI CATOR FOR RELAYS Filed Feb. 26 1921 /6 /4 4y 4%4/ 6 9 I l i l: NIP/ ll! l7 lul 20 I f 1;

l H f 2/ /3 5 1 g I INVENTOR H0060 R jear/hg 2- BY Maw ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1924.

HUDSON R. SEARING, OF NEW YORK, N.

, ASSIGNOR T0 XRTESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8c MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A COBURATIQCN GE lPENNSYLVANIA.

INDICATOR FOR Application filed February 26, 2.921. Serial No. 448,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUosoN R. SEARING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of N W York, have invented anew and useful Improvement in Indicators for Relays, of Which. the following is a specification.

My invention relates to relays and partic ularly to devices for indicating the energized or operative cond tion oi relays.

One object of my invention is to provide means for indicating the value of the current traversing a relay.

Another object of my invention is to pr" vide means for indicating when a relay is in an energized condition.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for indicating the operative condition of a relay of the induction type comprising a primary energizing Winding and a secondary Winding inductively related to and energized from the primary Winding.

Another object of my invention .is to provide a device, of the above indicated char acter, that may be applied economically to the standard induction-type relay without afiecting the structure thereof.

Un ted States Patent No. 1,286,239, issued to the Westinghouse Electric 8: Manufacturing Company December 3, 1918, upon an application filed by A. Copley and B. H. Smith, discloses a relay comprising a magnetizable member and a rotatable disc memher that controls the engagement or disengagement of a pair of contact members for controlling an external circuit. The disc member is prevented from moving, by a suitably adjusted spring, until the magnetizable member is energized beyond a predetermined degree. So long as the current traversing the relay is less than the predetermined value, there is no indication as to Whether or not the relay is energized or in an operative condition.

Since the relay is depended upon to disconnect the associated circuit when abnormal conditions occur therein, it is imperative that the relay be in operative condition. Since the movable contr lling member is operated only after the occurrence of abnormal conditions, a station attendant has no means whereby he may ascertain the operativeness or non-operativeness of a relay. The indication of an ammeter in the circuit With the relay is not positive enough. The increasmg power capacities of large stations and the corresponding increase of possible damage that may be effected render a positive indication of the operativeness Ora protec tive relay absolutely necessary.

A relay of the induction type comprises in addition to the ma n energized Winding a secondary Winding that is inductively related to and energized from the former. The actuation of the main controlling member is dependent upon the co-operation of the fluxes developed by bothwindiiigs. If the secondary Winding be in faulty or inoperative condition, the relay Will be inoperative. Such inoperative condition cannot be readily ascertained by observing uremia controlling member since it is normally adjusted to operate only When the relay is en'- ergized in excess of a predetermined degree. However, by providing a member to indieats a co-operative relation between the fluxes developed at all degrees of energ'iz ation, the operativeness of the relay may be always directly indicated.

In View of this fact, I provide an auxiliary disc member disposed adjacent to, and in plane parallel to, the main disc member of the relay. The auxiliary disc member is subjected to, and influenced by, the same flux that controls the movementof the main disc member but is controlled by a spring that is Weaker than that controlling the main disc member. The auxiliary disc member is provided with means for indicating the value of current thattraverses the relay. Thus, although the current that traverses the relay may be less than the value that is necessary to operate the same, the indicat ing means controlled by the auxiliary disc member Will serve to indicate that the relay is in an operative condition and also the value of current that is traversing the same.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a diagrammatic View of an electrical circuit and a perspective view of a relay embodying my invention connected there to.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a modifiedform of indicating device controlledby the auxiliary disc member shotvn in the relay in Fig. 1.

An electrical translating apparatus 1 r'e-' ceives energy from a source 2 of electroso tur a to d former or torque compensator i0 is nected between the windings 5 and 9. winding 7 inductivel' lacs the ing 8 which energizes the saturated transtornicr 1"".

The relay 4.- iiurther compri es disc member ll having a per subject to the mao'netic due: set

rotatahle non thereot up by the windings '7, 8 and fl oi? n L eiiaablc core member 6: Another portion of the disc member is subject to the ma jnetic ll of two permanent magnets I serve to control. the mo A spring 14'. disposed about of the rotatable disc member ll so contro ls that member as to pre 'ent. the operation thereof until a current o l? predetermined value traverses the relay to produce a magnetic flu ct predcterinin1,l strength.

hen. a current exceedinr; a predetez mined value traverses the relay tor a pre determined int :rval of time, depending: up on the value oil the current the disc m inber 11 is caused to turn to e ect the gagement ot plurality oi: con mca'ibcrc 16 by a, bridging member ll. Upon the engagement of the contact incmbtn's b' the bridging member 17 an aul-ziliary c rcuit ll.-

completed to trip the intcrruplm' Beneath the disc memaer ll adjacent thereto and in a plane parallel thereto, is disposed an auxiliary disc member 18 that is so disposed with respect to the mac"- netizable core nien'iber (3 as to be subjected to the same magnetic thin that aliects rotation of the disc member 11. The anvi iary disc member 18 is mounted on and supported by a shaft 19 that supported by a bracket 20 A spring E-l co -operates with the shaft 19 and the f 20 to control the mo ement 7 disc member 18. U

In Fig. l is shown one modification the indicating means controlled by auxiliary disc member 18 which comm a movable hand or pointer 21 that co operates with a stationary dial or scale ..2 that is suitably calibrated to indicate eit ie'" the actual value of current that traverses the relay or the percenta 'e of the full-load value of current traversing that relay. The modification that is illustrated in Fig);

2 comprises a stationary pointer 23 that co-operates with a movable dial 24-, the movement of which is controlled by the auxiliary disc member 18.

The auxiliary disc member and the indicating member controlled thereby: thus serve to indicate the value o'l current that traverses the relay and also to indicate that the relay is in an operative condition while the value of that current is less than the predetermined value that is necessary to produce a turning torque :tor the main disc member ll.

Although I have illustrated the device embodying my invention as applied to an overload relay, it is obvious that analogous devices embodying my invention may be applied to other types o'l relays such as. watt voltage, currentor temperature. relays, to indicate the degree oli energizintion of such relays prior to the decree re quired for the operation thereof.

lily invention is not limited to the specilic structure that is illustrated, since various modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a relay, the combination with a mo vable clement adapted to be actuated only when the current traversing the relay e2;- ceeds a predetermined value, 0t an auxiliary movable element actuated under all. conditions of encrgization of the relay to indicate the normal operation thereof, said elements being electromagnetically and independently actuable.

2. In a relay, the combination with a movable element adapted to be actuated onl' v when the current traversing the relay (is ceeds a predetermined value. of an auxil ary movable element for indicatin; the value ot the current traversing the relay said Pitments being simultaneously energized.

The combination with a relay normally energized but adapted to be operated only under predetermined conditions of means. for indicating the energization oil the relay before the occurrence of such conditions, and a single means for controlling the operation of the relay and ot the indicating means.

t. The combination with a relay comprising means normally energized but ad to be operated only under predeiermuied conditions. of means for indicatiw the normality of the relay before the or urrence of such conditions to operate the a tm'cmentioned relay means both said means bcin ff electrically and mechanically independent.

5. The combination with a normally encrgized relay adapted to be actuated only when a current of predetermined valu traverses the relay of means simultancously energized with the relay for indicating); the operativeness ot the relay.

6. The combination with a relay comprising means normally energized and adapted to be actuated only when a current of predetermined value traverses the relay, of means for indicating the value of the current traversing the relay.

7. The combination with an overload relay normally energized and adapted to bc actuated only when a current of predetermined value traverses the relay, of a movable member actuated in accordance with the current traversing the relay to indicate the operativeness thereof. a

8. The combination with a relay comprising means normally energized and a movable member adapted to be actuated thereby only when the relay is energized above a predetermined degree, of means for indicating the operative energization of the relay.

9. The combination with an induction relay having a movable member norn'ially energized but adapted to be actuated only when the relay is energized above a predctermined degree, of means actuated while the relay is energized below the predetermined degree of energization.

10. In a relay, the combination with a movable member and means for actuating the same only under predetermined condi tions of energization, of indicating means actuated by said means under all conditions of energization to indicate the operativencss of the relay.

11. In a relay, the combination with a movable member and means normally energized but operative to actuate the movable member only under a redetermined degree of energization, of in dicating means actu ated when the relay is energized to any de gree.

12. In a relay, the combination with a movable member and means normally energized but operative to actuate the movable member only upon a predetermined degree 'of energizati'on, of means for indicating the degree of energization of the relay.

13. In an overload relay, the combination with an electromagnetic actuating means and a movable member energized thereby but actuable only under predetermined current conditions, of an auxiliary movable member also energized thereby but actuable under all current conditions for indicating the operativeness of the relay.

14. In an overload relay, the combination with a circuit-controlling contactive device, an actuating member therefor and electromagnetic means for controlling the actuating member therefor and electromagnetic means for controlling the actuating member, of means for precluding operation of the actuating member while the current traversing the electromagnetic means is less than a predetermined value, and means responsive to the electromagnetic means to indicate the instantaneous deg ee of energization thereof and thereby indicate the opemtiveness of the relay.

15. In an overload relay, the combination with magnetizable core member and means for energizing the same in accordance with the value of current in a maincircuit to be controlled, of a main disc member and an auxiliary disc member subject to the mag netic influence of the core member and means for precluding actuation of the main disc member while the core member is energized less than a predetermined degree, the auxiliary member being actuable under all conditions of energization to indicate the operativeness of the relay.

1.6. In an overload relay, the combination with means for establishing an operating flux, of a main movable member subject to the influence thereof only under predeter mined conditions of energization, and an auxiliary movable member subject to the influence of the same magnetic flux but operative under all conditions of energization of the relay to indicate the operative energization thereof.

17. In a relay of the induction type, the combination with a magnetizable core member, a movable disc member magnetically actuable thereby under predetermined conditions and a contact member controlled by the disc member to control an external circuit, of an auxiliary disc member also controlled by the core member but under other predetermined conditions of energization.

18. A relay comprising a single actuating member, a control member actuable thereby only under predetermined conditions of en ergiza'tion and an indicating member activ able thereby under all conditions of energization to indicate the operativeness of the relay. I

19. In a relay comprising a primary Winding to be energized from an electric circuit and a secondary winding to be inductively energized from the primary winding, a main movable member actuable by the co-operation of the fluxes developed by both windings in excess of a predetermined degree of excitation of the primary winding, and means for indicating the co-operative relation under all degrees of excitation of the primary winding.

20. In an induction relay, the combination with a primary winding to be energized from an external circuit and a secondary Winding inductively related thereto, of a main movable disc member actuable in response to co-operating fluxes developed by both windings when the primary winding is energized in excess of a predetermined degree, and means actuable in response to such co-operating fluxes irrespective of the degree of energization of the primary winding.

21. In an induction relay, the combination with a primary Winding to be energized from an external circuit and a secondary winding inductively related. thereto, of a main movable disc member actuable in response to co-operatiug fluxes developed by both windings when the primary winding is energized in excess of a predetermined degree, and means for indicating the proper electrical condition of the secondary wind ing by indicating an operativeflux-developing condition.

22. In a relay, the combination with a plurality of windings inductively related to each other and a controlling member controlled thereby only when one of said windings is energized in excess of a predetermined degree of means for indicating the operativeness of the relay comprising an element movable under all degrees of energizetion of said one winding so long as another winding inductively associated therewith is closed circnited.

23. A relay comprising main winding to be energized from an external circuit, a secondary winding to be inductively energized from the first winding and means for indicating proper and operative energization of the secondary winding for all degrees o't energization of the primary winding.

24-. The combination with a relay comprising means normally energized and a movable member actuated thereby only when the relay is energized above a predetermined degree, of an operation indicator that is actuated in accordance with the current traversing the relay, said indicator being operative below said predetermined degree of energization.

25. The combination with a relay co1uprising means normally energized and a movable member actuated thereby only when the relay is energized above a predetermined. degree of an indicator operative during the energization of the relay at the predetermined degree.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this i l day of Feb, 1921.

HUDSON R. SEARING. 

